Is the landlord confirmation really mandatory?

Yes. Since the Federal Registration Act of 2015, the landlord confirmation has been part of every registration of a flat, nationwide. If you live in your own property, you issue it to yourself as the owner. Without it, the registration is incomplete; if you do not receive it in time, report this to the registration authority so that the missed deadline is not held against you.

Who issues the landlord confirmation?

The confirmation is issued by the housing provider – usually the landlord or a property manager acting on their behalf. With a sublet, the main tenant is the housing provider; in that case the owner's name must also go on the form. Anyone who issues a confirmation for someone who does not actually live there commits an administrative offence – fines of up to 50,000 euros are possible for this.

Which deadline applies to registering after the move?

After a move in Germany, you have two weeks to register with the registration authority (§ 17 BMG). You present the landlord confirmation when you do so. If the deadline is exceeded, a fine of up to 1,000 euros can be imposed; more on this in the article Forgot to re-register .

What happens if I do not receive a landlord confirmation?

First point out to the landlord their obligation under § 19 BMG. If they continue to refuse, you must inform the registration authority without delay; the authority can then make enquiries with the owner. The landlord commits an administrative offence if they fail to confirm the move-in, confirm it incorrectly or too late – fines of up to 1,000 euros are possible for this.

Can I register without a landlord confirmation?

Without a landlord confirmation the registration is incomplete, because the document proves the actual move-in. If you have not received the confirmation in time, go to the registration authority within the deadline anyway and explain this. The authority will sort out the rest with the housing provider or owner.

Does the landlord confirmation also apply to a long-distance move?

Yes, the obligation to provide a landlord confirmation applies regardless of whether it is a local move or a long-distance move to another city. Even when moving over long distances, you must register at your new place of residence within 14 days and present the confirmation.

Do I need a separate confirmation for each person in the household?

No, as a rule one landlord confirmation is enough for the whole household, provided everyone is registered in the same flat. What matters is that the names of everyone moving in are listed on the form, so that the registration can be carried out correctly for each member of the household.

What must the landlord confirmation contain?

Under § 19(3) BMG, the landlord confirmation must contain: the name and address of the housing provider, in the case of a sublet also the name of the owner, the move-in date, the address of the flat and the names of all persons required to register. With electronic transmission you receive a reference code.

Can I download the landlord confirmation online?

Many cities and municipalities provide the form for the landlord confirmation as a PDF to download on their official website. Alternatively, you can also get the form directly at the registration office on site. What matters is that you use the current version from your responsible registration authority.

Does the removal company help me with the landlord confirmation?

Only the housing provider can issue the landlord confirmation – a removal company is not allowed to. We do, however, remind you in good time about the form, deadlines and your appointment at the registration office, and plan the transport so that registration fits well into the schedule. You can find more about the process under our private move .

What does it cost to have the landlord confirmation issued?

The law provides for no fee for the landlord confirmation ; it is a statutory duty of the landlord to cooperate. The authority usually charges nothing for the registration itself either. If a landlord asks for money for the confirmation, ask what it is based on and, if in doubt, get advice from a tenants' association (Mieterverein).

THE LANDLORD'S OBLIGATION

Landlord confirmation: an obligation

Q: What exactly is a landlord confirmation?

The landlord confirmation is the confirmation from your landlord (the housing provider) that you have actually moved into the flat; you present it at the residents' registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt). It contains the name, address and move-in date and has been required by law for every registration since 2015. If you do not receive it in time, inform the registration authority without delay (§ 19(1) BMG).

Landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung): what it must contain, who issues it and what to do if the landlord does not provide it in time.

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REGISTRATION LAW EXPLAINED

Registering after the move

Landlord confirmation: what the landlord has to provide

§ 19 BMG explained

Unsere Firma What the landlord must confirm, which deadline applies and what to do if they refuse.

With the Federal Registration Act (Bundesmeldegesetz), which came into force on 1 November 2015, the landlord confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) was reintroduced nationwide. Anyone who moves into a flat must register within two weeks (§ 17 BMG) and present the landlord's confirmation when doing so. Under § 19 BMG, the housing provider (Wohnungsgeber) is obliged to confirm the move-in in writing or electronically – if they fail to do so, they themselves risk a fine. At Beste Umzug Unternehmen, we remind you of this form while the move is still being planned.

The form is easily forgotten, especially with a private move. So ask for it at the key handover, so that the two-week deadline for registering does not become a problem. With long-distance moves to another city, you should also clarify whether the landlord will send the confirmation by post or transmit it electronically straight to the registration authority. We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21), give you a fixed price after the survey and take care of the transport while you deal with the formalities.

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PERSONAL ADVICE

Plan your move – with a reminder of every form

Fixed price after the survey

We take care of transport and packing and remind you in good time about the landlord confirmation and registration. Call us on 01625978461 and get a fixed price after the survey. We are with you from planning to the last box – within Berlin and nationwide.

Offers available individually, depending on effort, scheduling and the scope of services required.

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EVERYTHING THOUGHT OF

How we help with registration

Transport plus reminders of deadlines

A move is more than transporting furniture – the registration requirement and forms are part of it too. That is why we point out the landlord confirmation and the two-week deadline to our customers at the survey. We give you the price as a fixed price after a survey, your household goods are covered by liability under the statutory rules of the German Commercial Code (HGB), and additional insurance is possible on request. Whether a small private move or a long-distance move: registering at the registration office (Bürgeramt) remains your task – we take care of the rest.

Checklist

Keep an eye on the deadlines – from the landlord confirmation and registration to the mail forwarding order.

Packing service

While we pack, you have time to request the form from the landlord and book the appointment at the registration authority.

Senior moves

If a parent moves into assisted living, the facility also issues a landlord confirmation – we plan the move calmly.

No-parking zone

On request we apply for the parking restriction zone (Halteverbotszone); in Berlin the signs must be in place at least 72 hours before the move.

WHAT THE LAW SAYS

The rules at a glance

The landlord confirmation is governed by § 19 of the Federal Registration Act. Tenants and landlords alike should know these points so that registration after the move works without queries and without a fine.

The landlord's obligation

The housing provider must confirm the move-in in writing or electronically. Anyone who fails to do so risks a fine of up to 1,000 euros.

Two-week deadline

Confirmation and registration run within the same deadline: two weeks after moving in, uniformly nationwide under § 17 BMG.

Fixed content

Name and address of the housing provider, move-in date, address of the flat and the names of all persons required to register.

Name the owner too

If the housing provider is not the owner themselves, for example with a sublet, the name of the owner also belongs on the form.

Report a refusal

If you do not receive the confirmation in time, inform the registration authority without delay (§ 19(2) BMG).

No favours

Offering an address for a sham registration is prohibited and can be punished with a fine of up to 50,000 euros.

SMALL LOADS

Part load for small amounts

Share the loading space, cut costs

With a part load, your belongings travel together with other orders in the same direction. This is worthwhile for a flat-share room, a small flat or individual pieces of furniture. Allow some flexibility on the delivery date and remember: the two weeks for registering run from the day you move in – not from the arrival of the last box.

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AFTER MOVING IN

Forms
around the move

What is due after moving in

Besides the landlord confirmation, further points are due after the move – from registering at the registration office (Bürgeramt) and the mail forwarding order to cancelling old contracts. If you miss the registration, you risk a fine; what happens then is explained in the article Forgot to re-register. You will find our range of services under private move, and long distances under long-distance moves.

Request the form early

Ask the landlord for the landlord confirmation at the key handover. That way your private move, senior move or student move stays on schedule with the formalities too.

Moving day without time pressure

With a packing service, careful furniture transport and flexible small transport, you have time to book the appointment at the registration office in good time and have all your documents together.

When the office moves too

With an office move or company relocation there is no landlord confirmation, but there is the change of business registration and the tax office. For small amounts, a part load or furniture taxi is suitable.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the landlord confirmation

Content, deadline and refusal explained.

The landlord confirmation is the confirmation from your landlord (the housing provider) that you have actually moved into the flat; you present it at the residents' registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt). It contains the name, address and move-in date and has been required by law for every registration since 2015. If you do not receive it in time, inform the registration authority without delay (§ 19(1) BMG).

What is a landlord confirmation?

The landlord confirmation is a declaration by your landlord or housing provider that you have moved into the flat. It has been required by the Federal Registration Act since 1 November 2015 (§ 19 BMG) and is presented when you register with the registration authority. If you live in your own property, you issue the confirmation to yourself as the owner.

The document contains the name and address of the housing provider, the move-in date, the address of the flat and the names of the people moving in. Without it, the registration is incomplete – if you do not receive it in time, inform the registration authority instead of letting the deadline pass.

How to request the landlord confirmation correctly

It is best to ask for the form directly at the flat handover so that no time is lost. Many landlords and property managers already have it prepared. Alternatively, the landlord can transmit the move-in electronically to the registration authority; you then receive a reference code (Zuordnungsmerkmal), which you give when registering.

You will find the official template on your city's website, in Berlin via service.berlin.de. Make sure that all the details are complete and that everyone moving in is named, to avoid queries when you re-register.

What the move itself costs

Whether a small flat or a large house – our prices are fairly calculated. For 1 room we start from €369, for 2 rooms from €589, for 3 rooms from €905 and for 4 rooms from €1,324. For houses and villas you always receive an individual quote, as many factors play a role here. If you are moving further away, you pay from €4.25/km for long-distance moves with us. Take advantage of our free survey for a personal quote.

These points determine the price of the move

The most important factors are volume, distance (from €4.25/km), floor and a lift that may be missing. A parking restriction zone can also mean extra effort. If you book furniture assembly or part load, you should factor this in as well.

Services around moving in and out

While you deal with forms and appointments, we take care of these tasks.

House clearance	Clearing the old flat before the handover.
Part load	Shared loading space for small amounts.
Company relocation	Moving offices and businesses.
Furniture transport	Individual pieces of furniture transported safely.
Private move	The entire household to your new home.
Move with assembly	Furniture dismantled and reassembled.

From Berlin to your new address anywhere in Germany

We are based in Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and operate nationwide. You can see destinations with their own page in the locations overview, and longer distances with process and distance under long-distance moves.

Authorities & Address Registration

Beste Umzug Redaktion

August 31, 2026

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